The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1887-04-07
CARDINAL GIBBONS, REPORT.
The Catholic Church In us Relation to the
knights OF Labor.

Inc CdLaotsc tUHfct IB us hetutecu u 10
knights Of Labor.
The text OF Cardinal Gibbons report on
the Knights Of Labor, as published in the
Moniteur de Rome, shows that several adj
ditions nave been made to the report as
originally published. Referring to the OBJ
~jectionf ,rged against the organization the
cara7"a says: at is objected that in this
k'". Of organization Catholics mix with
,jestants to the peril Of their faith.
..mongst n mixed people like ours The sep
aration OF religious and civil affairs is not
possible. To suppos that the faith OF
Catholics suffer shows ignorance OF the
Catholic workmen OF America, who regard
the church as their mother. They are in
t%elligent, instructed, devoted and ready to
give their blood as they give their hard
gains for her support and protection"
To the question whether it wonld not be
better to have the organization conducted
by priests under the direct influence OF reii-
gion, the cardinal frankly replies that lie
thinks it neither possible nor necessary
I'm our country" he says, 1--WE ave
abundant means OF making Catholics good
without going so far" 1t being objected
that the liberty OF the organization ex-
poses Catholics to deadly influences and
associates mere dangerous than even athe-
lists, communists and anarchists, the car
dinal said il was true, but hat one proof
OF the faith would not try American Cath
olics. To such influences they were exposed
every day and they knew them well and
despised them. The leaders OF the knights
OF Labor related how these violent asgres-
sive elements strove to gain authority in
their councils or to initiate persons into
the principles OF the association, and also
told OF the determination with which they
were repealed. Thedanger would arise from
u GOODNESS between the church and her chill
dren, which nothing would more surely oc-
casion thar imprudent combinations.
Special stres IS being laid upon violence, even
to the shedding OF blood, which has char
acterized several strikes inaugurated
by the workingmen's associations, the
cardinal says: Il have three things
to remark. First, Strikes are not
the invention OF the Knights OF Labor,
but the universal, perpetual means by
which workingmen protest against what IS
unjust and demand their rights. Second,
in such q struggle Of the multitudes Of the
poor against hard, obstinate monopoly
wealth, violence is often as inevitable as it
is regretable. Third, the laws and princi-
pal authorities OF the Knights OF Labor, so
far from encouraging violerce, or occasions /
for violence, exercise IL powerful preventive
influence, seeking to keep strikes within the
limits of legitimate action. An attentive |
examination into the violent struggle be-
tween labor and capital has convinced one |
OF the injustice OF attributing violence to
the Knights. Their principal authorities |
have proved the fact that it is as unreal |
sonable to attribute violence to the |
Knights as to attribute to the church the
felonies and crimes OF her children against
which she protests. This thought is adj
mirably developed by the cardinal. He
part OF the Christian prudence is to
attempt to bind the hearts of the multi
tude will the ties OF love for the purpose
controlling them by principles OF faith,
and charity, and to recognize the
truth and justice OF their cause re- !
from what is false and criminal.
will encourage as "a legitimate. peace
beneficent struggle that which by re-
pulsive severity might become &c" the masses
OF our people IL volcanic abyss similar to
that to which society follows and which the
church deplores in Europe. The cardinal
insists strongly and atlength on this point.
then refers to the aspect OF our country
that OF popular power regulated by love
Of order; respect for religion, obedience to
avs Not the democracy OF lions. but true
democracy. which seeks the general pros
oerity by ways of sound principles and
'ood social order. Religion is necessary to
preserve so desirable state of affairs.
Among the church's glorious titles, none at
present give her such influence as that OF
he Friend OF the People," In our demo-
'cratic nation that is the title which gains
or the Catholic church not only the en-
hls!astic devotion Of millions Of her chill
lren, but the respect aad admiration OF all
t our citizens. whatever their religious be- !
He recognized that the great ques-
ion of the future is not the question OF
var. commerce or finance, but the social
question, touching the amelioration OF the
ondition OF the popular masses, especially {
he working man. Therefore it is OF sover.
IGN Importance that the church be found {
ways firmly ranged on the side of human l
~ and justice toward the multitudes COM $
osing the body of the human family. The c
o. the lower classes at present 1
annot and should not continue.